06 Juli 2012

First Launch of "Brahmos" Submarine-Based Missile to be Held in Oct-Nov

06 Juli 2012

Brhamos submarine-based anti-ship missile (photo : Militaryphotos)

Submarine-based version of the BrahMos Russian-Indian
missile will be launched for the first time in Oct-Nov, 2012, the director of
BrahMos Aerospace Sivathanu Pillai told ARMS-TASS at the 2-nd international
engineering technology forum.

"We're going to hold the first launch of the
submarine-adapted missile version by underwater testing platform in October or
November", Dr. Pillai said.

According to him, the coming launch will be an important
stage in the BrahMos program development because after that test Indian Navy
will decide whether to arm India's prospective non-nuclear submarines with
these missiles.

Representative of Rubin Central Design Bureau earlier told
ITAR-TASS that Russian designers were ready to offer Indian Navy non-nuclear
submarine Amur-1650 armed either with Club or BrahMos missile systems.

"So far, Indian partners have not brought up an issue
of BrahMos integration into Amur-1650 submarine put up for Indian tender under
the 75I prospective submarine program", said Andrei Baranov, deputy
director general of Rubin bureau for foreign economic activity.

As for him, "the Amur-1650 submarine project is
currently armed with Club attack missile system, well-known in Indian Navy and
launched by horizontal torpedo tubes. But if Indian party wants the sub to be
equipped with vertically-launched BrahMos attack missile system, Rubin bureau
would amend the project", Baranov explained.

"BrahMos can be integrated into Amur-1650 as an
additional compartment with vertical launch tubes", pointed out the design
bureau's director.

"Amur and BrahMos are pretty compatible; we had worked
on the sub's architecture in this regard. So, if Indian partners want to have
the BrahMos-equipped submarine, that would strengthen chance of Rosoboronexport
in the India's
program 75I tender", emphasized Baranov.

Rosoboronexport will put up prospective non-nuclear
submarine Amur-1650 powered by air-independent plant for Indian tender
providing procurement and license production of 6 non-nuclear submarines.